Sino-Pak ties at new doorstep: Jiabao in Islamabad

By: Haroon Baloch
December 23, 2010

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao’s visit to Pakistanrevisited olden times. Sino-Pak relationships root back in 1950 when diplomatic relations established and progressed through the period of time. Both the countries have gone through the thick and thin and ensured their full cooperation with devotion and commitment.

During recent visit Chinese premier termed a Chinese quotation, “Good neighbor is much better than a distant relative.”

Various articulations have come into observations pertaining as to why China is investing inPakistan at a huge canvas from energy to fishery and livestock sectors? What are the future prospects and what Pakistan needs to understand and grab from whole this?

On the other hand, things are in déjà vu when it comes to strengthening Sino-India relationships as during recent visit of Wen Jiabao both the countries have pledged to promote their bilateral trade up to $100 billion in coming five years.

Dissecting all these current circumstances, it is very important to understand that South Asiais the region where the world powers will accumulate in future. China has been declared as 2^ndworld economic power and has also started influencing on the political amphitheater. On the other hand, Economy Watch confirms India as 4^th largest economy when we consider Purchasing Power Parity (PPP).

No doubt India remained a golden sparrow for west in the past and now this sparrow can’t be left unbound, and China considers this fact. To a large extent, China has been consideringIndia as to curtail its influence in the region because west has been investing in India to contain China. Analysts are of the view China is bounding India to engage into bilateral economic ties so as to play its cards when time to exploitation will arrive. But this is one of the vague thoughts that are too early to be presumed and have less likely to be confirmed.

Comparing these ties with those of Pakistan, it has been learnt from various foreign experts that ties with India are just economical as China cannot sacrifice its share in this graceful trading market that is considered as a golden sparrow. Policy is to serve China on the vast perspective; on economical grounds as well as politically.

If China is pledging $100 billion deal with India then obviously it is not a small fixture, and is very interactive for India too on economic grounds. But the interest of India in China cannot be ruled out and that’s nuclear cooperation, but for China, it is too early to hold this nature cooperation. Perhaps it has been extracted from the Indian foreign analysts that China will never hold such type of deal with India because of past history. One of the Indian experts has termed the Wen’s visit to India as non-productive from Indian perspective.

To better understand Sino-Pak relationships and increasing interests of China in Pakistan, it has been asserted by foreign experts as they are not merely because of economic milestones but these are rather more of an economic. Both the countries during the past 60 years have widened their relationships on strategic grounds and this has been agreed by the two countries in joint statement released by Pakistani Foreign Office that both countries will continue their strategic partnership, further strengthen it.

While analyzing the past economic strides between both the countries, China has grabbed the entire share whereas Pakistan has gained the least because China itself is a cheap market and there is no way they promote expensive goods in their local markets. What Pakistan has grabbed during the last 60 years’ Sino-Pak relations is Chinese investments that are now amounting to $30 billion pledged by China in recent Jiabao’s visit.

Chinese are considered as the deep visionary nation. Today, China has attained the position in world’s politics; ties with Pakistan played the most important role in it. Being the first ever country to recognize China, Pakistan served as a stair to communicate with Islamic world as well as with west to intermingle and for the commencement of relations.

Safdar Raza Bukhari, a foreign relations expert says it was the only Pakistan who offered the friendship in 1950 when China was alone in this world and it was again Pakistan who supported the China in the time of war with India in 1962, supported China’s point of view against Dalai Lama and on Tibet dispute with India, and many more occasions when Pakistan backed China’s stance.

While comparing with India, Pakistan has got a congenial track history, whereas with India,China has bitter past. India used to provide asylum to people who belong to disputed Chinese terrains because of disputes with China.

Another very important fact is related to geography. China is surrounded by 15 other countries including Russia, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Mongolia, North Korea, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Vietnam and others. Among all these countries, there a very few that does not fall in the encirclement of China and Pakistan is one of them.

Among other reasons, Pakistan has attained the status of a must on international arena.United States and/or the entire the west is dependent on Pakistan for war against terrorism, so Pakistan is a flashpoint in this region and also is serving as the front liner.

Economically though Pakistan is not a very strong country, but Pakistani land is enriched with underground natural resources as recently gold and copper mine that is considered as worlds 2^nd largest mine is discovered. Similarly a huge treasure of coal is also discovered in Sindh province that can produce 50,000 MW electricity for over 100 years and so on. This natured land attracts foreign companies to invest and win the major shares. One of the significances also includes the neighborhood of two leading economies; i.e. China and India.

Aforementioned are some of the key points that win for Pakistan the status of being must on international arena.

With such enriched amity milieu, China doesn’t want to lose Pakistan at any ground as it is tested one. To strengthen this viewpoint, Pakistan is considered as the most important Muslim country because of its advancement in technology, infrastructure, being the nuclear power and with equipped and professional army which ranked among the top 10 professional armies in the world.